Bicycle-bell mechanism.



No. 658,995. Patented Oct. 2, I900. P. A. MGCASKEY.

BICYCLE BELL MECHANISM.

(A gplication filed 172L114, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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x9 I ATTORNEY.

PERRY A. MOCASKEY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY T.

HEARSEY, OF SAME PLACE.

BICYCLE-BELL MECHANISM.

SPECIFIGA TION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 658.995. dated October 2, 1900.

Application filed October 14, 1899.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PERRY A. MoCAsKEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bicycle-Bell Mechanisms; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled to in the art to which'it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to mechanism comprising the bell-frame and the means whereby the bell .is caused to be struck; and it consists in certain improvements in the details of construction of the bell-frame, in a new and novel form of hammer, in anew and novel form of the device whereby the bell-hammer when mounted upon a bicycle-pedal is operatod, and in the peculiar and novel manner in which the hammer is mounted and whereby the same is brought into contact with the device whereby it is operated; and the invention consists, further, in the parts and combination and arrangement of parts particularly described hereinafter and claimed.

My objects are to provide, first, an operating mechanism for bicycle-bells adapted to be carried by the bicycle-pedal, which may be cheaply constructed and simple and durable, so as to be reliable at all times and not 5 liable to become derangedin rough usage,and,

second, to-provide a durable device whereby the bell-hammer may be operated and incapable of interfering with the wearing-apparel of the rider. These are fully attained in my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view showing the free end of a bicycle crank-arm and a pedal attached thereto, of common type, to which are applied a complete bell or gong and operating mechanism therefor constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a plan view showing partially a plan of the bell-frame and gong, the latter being broken away and exposing the hammer and its supporting-controller; Figs. 3 and 4:, plan views of the gong- Serial No. 733,577. iNo model.)

frame and striking mechanism; Fig. 5, a transverse sectional View of the pedal and gong, taken centrally with the gong and showing parts of the mechanism in elevation; Fig.

6, a plan view of a modified form of the hammer-operating device; Fig. 7, a central vertical sectional view of the gong-frame, showing the gong-bracket and other parts; Fig. 8,

a perspective view of the hammer carrier and controller; Fig. 9, a perspective-view of the gonghammer; Fig. 10, aside view of the tension-spring; and Fig. 11, an elevation of the gong-frame, showing the guides and stops for the hammer-arm and for the controller therefor.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures of the drawings designate similar parts.

In the drawings for convenience the part designatedas E is termed the gong-frame, including the bracket H; F, the gong-frame clamp; G, thegong; l, the hammer carrier and controller; J, the hammer; K, the tension-spring, combining in its functions also a rebounder, and L and L the hammer tripper or striker.

In construction I cut and stamp or press up from sheet met-ala frame which carries the gong and its hammer mechanism, although it may be suitably composed of a'casting. -As I preferably form the frame E its horizontal part or web is in the form of a disk having a flange 6 turned so as to extend over the edge of the gong G, which is of common form, andthus al'lmudand dust are practically excluded from the interior. A bracket H has a foot secu red to the frame, as by means of screws or rivets h, and has also a head i, to which the gong is secured, as bya screw f. In the flange e are openings 7 and s, which serve as supporting guides and stops for the controller I and he arm N of the hammer J, respectively. The bracket His provided with an eye Q for a purpose hereinafter explained, thus dispensing with the expense of a separate part usually employed in other mechanisms. At suitable points in the Web of the frame E are screw-holes, in which screw-bolts d d enter, whereby the frame is secured to the pedal, against the side bars D thereof, in conjunction with a clamp F, extending around the opposite side of the barrel or case C of the pedal-axle B.

The hammer carrierand controller I is preferably made as a stamping from fiat bandiron or from sheet-steel and is in the form of a lever m, having a substantially right-angular arm n, which when in position extends upward at the outside of and above the front side bar of the pedal-frame, so that a riders foot may engage it, the angular part p being slightly beyond the flange eof the gong-frame. At the end of the lever part mis a pivot-hole Z, through which extends a pivot-pin 1, secured in a suitable manner to the web of the gong-frame, preferably near the flange eand at the side nearly opposite the guide-opening 1', between which is the guide-opening 3, thus pivoting the controller. Between the pivothole Z and the angular part 12 is a secured pivot-pin 70, extending through a pivot-hole is in approximately the center of the gonghammer J, whereby the same is pivotally secured to the carrier and controller I.

The gong-hammer J is preferably made as a stamping from sheet metal, and as preferably formed comprises a central portion and two arms radiating approximately at a right angle one to the other, the arm M of which is the hammer proper and the arm N of which is the actuating-lever for the hammer, the pivot-hole it, before referred to, being situated at or near the base of the arm N. In some cases also a finger projects at a suitable angle from the arm M, being nearly a straight continuation of the arm N, and is for the purpose of increasing the force of the stroke of the hammer when this is desired. The hammer is so situate with relation to the lever part m that the arm N normally projects substantially at nearly a right angle therefrom through the guide-opening s in the part of the flange adjacent to the pivot 70. Near the pivot is and approximately in alinement with the arm N and at the side of the pivot opposite the free end of the arm N is an eye P, whereby the tension-spring is connected to operate in conjunction with the hammer and its carrier and controller, although obviously a pintle might be substituted for the eye; but the latter is less expensive, and therefore preferable. The controller portion m is preferably situate between the hammer and the web of the gongframe, so that the finger O is in alinement with the center of the coil tension-spring K.

In order to retain the carrier normally at one side of its limit of lateral travel,whereby the hammer is rendered normally inoperative, and also when operative to cause the hammer to strike the gong and rebound therefrom, I may employ various well-known types of springs; but in the interest of economy and to insure the greatest simplicity and effectiveness I preferably employ but one spring, which, in consequence of the novel manner in which I employ the same, performs all the desired functions. The tension-spring K is preferably spirally coiled closely and has a hook it at one end engaging the eye P in the present case or otherwise attached to the hammer, and at the opposite end it has a book 4; engaging the eye Q or otherwise connected to the bracket H or permissibly to some stable part, as the flange of the frame, the spring being so hung that it shall essentially draw the arm N longitudinally from engagement with its tripper and at the same time thrust the hammer against the gong and also produce the nec' essary rebound thereof, while normally retaining the hammer-face in proximity to the inner side of the gong. This is best accomplished when the spring extends approximately in a line with the arm N, the finger 0 being against the adjacent side of the spring. The tripper L or L is suitably made of metal in the form of a disk having a central aperture t, through which the screwend CI, of the pedal-axle B is inserted and is clamped between the outer face of the boss A of the crank-arm A and the head I) of the axle. In some cases apertures are formed so that integral arms R, as in disk L, remain, against which the arm N is brought into contact for sounding the gong, and in other cases I form the equivalent of the arms so as to be of greater Width by making com paratively-narrower apertures, as R, in disk L, thus causing more rapid vibrations of the hammer, which may in some instances be desirable.

The mode of operation will be readily understood by reference to the drawings, Fig. 1 showing the controller I in a position accessible to the riders toe and in an operative position, as more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the latter also having the hammer in the position assumed while being tripped, while in Fig. 4 the mechanism is in inoperative position and is so normally maintained by the tension-spring except when manually adjusted so as to operate. The pedals shown are designed to represent those for the righthand side of a bicycle, the arrows indicating the direction of movement of the crank-arms. When the controller I is pressed toward the tripper L or L but slightly, the point of the arm N is brought into contact and enters one of the apertures R or between two of the arms R,and the rotation of the tripper (when the bicycle is in motion) causes the hammer to vibrate, and thus, in connection with the tension-spring, strike the gong repeatedly in succession until allowed to be drawn away from contact by the action of the tensionspring. It will be observed that the arm N is moved substantially in a longitudinal direction by its carrier by reason of the manner in which the tension-spring is applied, which is a great advantage in producing rapid strokes of the hammer and in obviating the necessity of objeetionably-long travel of the arm n of the controller I. It will be seen also that the finger O, engaging the side of the spring K when under strain, is a great advantage in accelerating the force of the hammer against the gong.

While a tripper is shown having multiple contact-points, it is obvious that on bicycles having low gear or when moderate rapidity of the gong-strokes is desired 1 may dispense with the attachable tripper and employ the bicycle crank-arm in lieu thereof within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention,what

I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters 7 Patent, is-

l. A gong-hammer provided with a supporting-carrier adapted to maintain the hammer in variable operative posit-ions relatively to the gong and to also carry the hammeroperating armlongitudinally to operative positions relatively to exterior prearranged hammer-trippin g devices.

2. A gong-hammer provided 'with a supporting-carrier and a spring so mounted as to impart to the hammer a striking thrust and to sustain the rebound, and to also maintain the hammer and carrier in inoperative positions relatively to prearranged ham mer-tripping devices.

3. A gong-frame having a gong rigidly attached thereto and provided with a lever pivoted at one end thereto and having an operating-arm at the opposite end thereof,a gonghammer pivoted upon the lever substantially in alinement with the pivoted end and the arm thereof, and a spring for the lever and the hammer.

also prevent contact of the-hammer with the gong after a rebound thereof, a tripper suitably mounted, and means whereby the carrier may be operated to transfer the hammer to be acted upon by the tripper.

5. A gong mechanism consisting of a rigidly-supported frame, a gong rigidly mounted upon the frame, a gong-hammer carrier and controller having a projecting operating-arm and pivoted to the frame, stops for the carrier and controller whereby the lateral movement thereof is gaged, a gong hammer mounted upon the carrier and controller, a tripper adjacently mounted, and a spring so mounted and strained as to operate to withdraw the hammer l'rom contactwvith the tripper and to also impart the thrust to the hammer and to also hold the rebound thereof.

6. A bicycle-bell mechanism comprising a rigidly-supported frame, a bell or gong rigidly attached to the frame, a lever pivoted to the frame, a gong-hammer pivoted to the lever, a spring for the lever and the gong-hammer, and means whereby the gong-hammer pivoted to the lever may be tripped when moved into contact therewith.

7. A bicycle-bell mechanism comprising a frame, a bell attached to the frame, a lever pivoted to the frame, a gong-hammer pivoted to the lever, and a spiral spring anchored at one end and at the opposite end engaging the gonghammer under longitudinal tension so as to cause both a striking thrust of the hammer and a withdrawal of the hammer from contact with relatively-fixed adjacent tripping devices.

8. The combination with a bicycle crankarm and a pedal, of a disk secured to the crank-arm and provided with radially-dis- .posed apertures adapted to receive the end of an operating arm or lever of the gong-hammer,a gong-frame secured rigidly to the pedal,

'a gong rigidly secured to the gong-frame, a

lever pivoted to the rigidly-secured gongframe, a gong-hammer pivoted to such lever,

and a spirally-coiled spring anchored at one end thereof and at the opposite end thereof engaging the pivoted gong-hammer.

9. The combination with the rigidly-secured frame and the gong rigidly attached thereto, of the combined hammer carrier and controller pivoted to such frame, the gonghammer pivoted to such combined carrier and controller and provided with the finger projecting oppositely from the operating-arm thereof, and a spring connecting the gonghammer and engaging the finger, whereby both a tensile and a torsional elasticity of the spring impartsa simultaneous impetus to the gong-hammer.

10. In a gong mechanism, the combination with the crank-arm and the pedal, of the tripper, the frame rigidly secured to the pedaland having the gong-bracket rigidly attached thereto, the gong attached to such bracket, the combined hammer carrier and controller comprising an oblong rectangular lever pivoted at one end thereof to such frame and having an upwardly-extending arm, a pivotpin attached to the body of such lever substantially in alinement with the pivoted end and the arm thereof,the gong-hammer pivoted vto such pivot-pin, and the spring whereby the gong-hammer is withdrawn from contact with the tripper.

11. In a bicycle-gong mechanism, the combination with the crank-arm and pedal, of the frame secured to the pedal, the gong secured to the frame, the hammer carrier and con-- troller, the hammer-spring, and the tripper secured to the crank-arm and having the radial arms provided with an annular ring attached to the outer ends of the radial arms,

whereby a garment-guard is provided for the tripper.

12. In a bicycle-gong mechanism, the combination of the crank-arm, the pedal, the tripper, the frame, the gong attached to the frame, the gong-hammer carrier and controller, the

gong-hammerarm mounted on the carrier and controller and so as to project such arm toward the tripper substantially parallel with the pedal-axle, and a spring attached to the frame and so strained as to normally maintain the gong-hammer arm in such parallel position except when disturbed by the tripper.

13. In a bicycle-gong mechanism, the combination with the crank and the pedal, of the tripper, the gong-frame, the gong, the combined hammer carrier and controller, the gong-hammer pivoted to the combined hammer carrier and controller and provided with a finger projecting oppositely 'from the tripper, and a spring anchored at one end and connected at the opposite end to the pivoted gong-11am mer and strained in alinement with one side of the finger attached to the gonghammer, whereby the gong-hammer is normally withheld from contact with the tripper and whereby also both the striking thrust and the rebound are imparted to the gonghammer.

14. In a bicycle-gong mechanism, a disk having the central aperture and provided with the radiating apertures whereby contactarms having an annular guard-ring at the extremities thereof are formed to prevent interference with garments.

15. In a bicycle-gong mechanism, the combination of the tripper, the gong-frame having the peripheral flange, the supporting guide-openings in said flange, the gong, the combined carrier and controller supported and stopped in one of said guide-openings, the gong-hammer mounted on said combined carrier and controller and having an arm working radially and adapted to be carried longitudinally by said combined carrier and controllerand partiallysupported in the other of said guide-openings, and the spring adapted to normally maintain said gong-hammer arm substantially in alinement with its longitudinal travel, whereby both the hammer and its carrier are normally retained in inoperative positions except when controlled by human agency.

16. In a bicycle-gong mechanism, the combination with the pedal-axle and the pedalframe, of a striker so secured as to rotate with the pedal-axle, a base-plate secured to the pedal-frame, a gong mounted on the baseplate, a lever pivoted to the base-plate and extending so as to be accessible by a riders foot whereby it may be actuated, and a gong hammer or clapper pivoted on such lever wherebyit may be moved into and out of engagement with the striker.

17. In a bicycle-gong mechanism, the combination with the pedal-axle and the pedalframe, of a striker so secured as to rotate with the pedal-axle, a base-plate secured to the pedal-frame, a gong mounted on the baseplate, a lever pivoted to the base-plate and per or striker comprising a series of arms whose outer ends are connected by a rim and so secured as to rotate with the pedal-axle, and means whereby the gong-operating apparatus may be brought into operative engagement with such tripper.

19. In a bicycle-gong mechanism, the combination with the crank-arm and the pedal and its axle, of a gong and an operating mechanism therefor including a gong-hammer having an arm extending toward the crank-arm and means whereby such arm is normally maintained in a line substantially parallel to the axis of the axle and mounted on the pedal, a tripper or striker comprising a disk having apertures therein and secured so as to be carried with the crank-arm, and means whereby said gong-hammer maybe moved by a riders foot bodily with its arm in such parallel line into and out of engagement in said apertures in said tripper.

20. In a bicycle-gong mechanism, the combination with the crank-arm and the pedal and its axle, of a tripper consisting of a disk having the central aperture whereby it is secured by the axle so as to move with the crankarm and provided with radially-disposed apert-ures whereby contact-arms having an annular guard-ring at the extremities thereof are formed to prevent interference of the arms with garments, a frame mounted on the pedal, a gong and gong-operating mechanism therefor mounted on the frame and including a gong-ham mer having an operating-arm nor-- mally situate at a substantially right angle to the face of such disk-tripper and adapted to enter the radially-disposed apertures thereof, a lever pivoted to the frame and extending so as to be engaged by the foot of a rider and supporting the gong hammer whereby such hammer may be moved into an operative contact with such tripper by the riders foot, and a spring whereby such hammer may be withdrawn from such contact with such tripper.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PERRY A. MOCASKEY. Witnesses:

ETHEL M. Lone, A. J. ZIMMERLA. 

